People from across the community are pulling together in support of a unique two-part charity event sponsored by the American Advertising Foundation of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Friday with an opening at Mango Tango Art Gallery at Yacht Haven Grande on St. Thomas, where 10 bowling pins — painted, designed and reworked by some of the territory’s top artists — will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The art runs the gamut from traditional to modern, created by such heavy hitters as David Hill, Tony Romano, John Chinnery, Shari Erickson and Bill Thompson, whose pin is actually mounted on a wooden cross.

But here’s what makes the event truly special: 18 local businesses, organizations and a couple of government agencies have signed up for a Bowl-O-Rama challenge in which the winning team will donate the proceeds from the silent auction to the charity of their choice. The bowl-off starts at 4 p.m. Oct. 24 and ends with an awards ceremony at 7:15 p.m., at which time the winning bidders from the auction will receive their pins.

Team trophies and prizes will also be awarded for the Highest Team Score, Highest Individual Bowler Score, Best Team Uniform, Lowest Individual Bowler Score and Most Creative Body English — or, who has the best throw, according to Terri Brown, chief executive officer of MLB Creative, which helped to organize and coordinate the two-part event.

"The idea for the event started with our president, Kevin Hughes," Brown explained. "He wanted to involve more of the community and our members’ families in a social event, and suggested bowling. I recalled an AAF event in Miami that auctioned off bowling pins painted by artists, so we combined the two ideas and were able to put together something really great."

And AAF-USVI gets none of the money. In fact, even the $1 donation suggested for residents that come out to watch the bowl-off will be donated to the Queen Louise Home, Brown said. For those who can’t make it out, Ackley Media Group’s newest station, HITZ96, will broadcast the event live from the V.I. Christian Ministries Bowling Alley, putting both the businesses and their charities in the spotlight.

Participating teams range from the University of the Virgin Islands to the V.I. Source, which has been challenged to a bowling duel by VI Now for an extra $25 for their respective charities. VI Now will bowl to earn funds for the V.I. Olympic Federation, while the Source will bowl for the Rwanda Project USVI. Other charities represented during the event will be the Stop the Bleeding Foundation, the Humane Society, Beacon Schools of the Virgin Islands, the Family Resource Center and the United Way, among others.

Sponsors for the event include Banco Popular, Choice Communications, Ackley Media Group and Sugar Estates Distributing.